I would like to start off by asking why we tend to believe the more money we spend, the better we look? However, I think we all know why. We’ve grown up in a society that praises high fashion and designer products and the people who only dress in them. We live in a world where all the Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Prada styles define one’s fashion sense and how likable their style is. If you can’t afford any of that, then you should at least be stepping out with anything remotely designer. These brands range from Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, and Zara. While also participating in trendy shopping at stores like Urban Outfitters and Aritzia, etc. I also have a question. Do you ever walk around checking people’s clothing tags before you compliment a nice outfit? No, right? So why should you have to worry about how “known” your pair of shoes are? Don’t we often see these high qualities and popular brands steal ideas from smaller businesses and vice versa anyway? Let me list some examples: According to an article, Fashion brands steal design ideas all the time. And it’s completely legal by Chavie Lieber. Lieber stated that, “Levi’s recently slapped Kenzo, a luxury French brand, with a lawsuit after the luxury house released jeans with a small rectangular tag hanging off the back pocket. A design element that Levi’s has trademarked, for context Kenzo’s is white, while Levi’s is red.”
Another example is Carrie Anne Roberts, a single mom who was going about her regular business one day. Until she found out one of her bestsellers in her merchandise line had been knocked off by Old Navy.
Want to know my little secret in wanting to enjoy the look of a buckled suede sandal without having to drop a whole Benjamin Franklin and then some? In other words, want to see the dupe I’ve found for some expensive sandals?
Behold the famous Birkenstocks retailing at a lovely $135. Meanwhile, you can find a very similar, worth dupe at Walmart retailing for just $19.99. If this doesn’t make you realize how little importance you should be letting brands influence your rate and fashion sense. The reality is, you can’t base a price range on how stylish you’d rate someone. It’s not impossible to find alternate options to your wish list, and better yet, you don’t even have to try.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am not saying I can’t appreciate a perhaps higher quality item. Or that I’ve never looked twice at a Michael Kors purse because I have. As an example, I own a Michael Kors purse, it was a gift, but that’s beside the point. So, let’s talk about it. My purse is what one could consider a more expensive item. However, the outfit I wore was not in the same price category. My coat falls sort of in the middle as it is a Forever21 higher priced item, but my turtle neck is thrifted, and my pants were a deal I got from JCPenney on a BlackFriday. Do you see what I’m trying to get at here?
For anyone out there trying to find their style. It is all about skill and strategy, shopping for what makes you look good and feel good. Shop smarter, not pricier. To be fashionable is to be confident in what you wear and how you pair such items together. What’s the point of wearing a $600 shirt with some $1k shoes if you don’t know how to make them work?